3 Weight Loss Surgery Success Secrets

You’ve seen the ads, using before-and-after pictures to show patients’ enormous weight losses after bariatric surgery. In one picture, a woman is standing outside Disneyland at her heaviest, wearing khaki pants. In the next picture, she is sporting a bikini and holding the pants she was wearing in the first picture, grinning ear to ear. But what happens during the time between those two pictures? How did woman A become woman B, and what experiences did she have along the way? Weight loss surgery is not merely a medical procedure; it’s a journey that you undertake hand in hand with yourself. Along the way, you will experience many joys and a few frustrations, all of which are meant to guide you to your goal of health, confidence, and self-satisfaction. Wondering how to handle the challenges you will encounter along the way? Consider the following a guide on your road to wellness. You will feel worse before you feel better . . . but you will feel better Weight loss surgery is surgery. Repeat. Surgery is an invasive process that involves the removal or alteration of parts of your body; in this case, your stomach. Initial recovery from bariatric surgery can take 2-3 weeks, depending on which procedure you chose. During your recovery time, you will likely feel sore and may become constipated. Be sure to stock your home with pre-cooked meals, clean laundry, and stool softeners prior to surgery so you can return to a restful environment that meets your needs. Your body will be adjusting to a lower calorie intake while functioning, so give yourself time to adjust. After two weeks, you can begin walking gently, but will need to avoid heavy lifting at first. This period of change is temporary, however, and soon you will be able to amp up your workouts and embrace the positive changes brought on my weight loss surgery, including a fitter body and increased self-esteem. Support, support, support You’re tough. You may not think that you need to ask for help. Heck, you may never once have asked for help in your life. However, on this journey, you will need support, and now, not when you need someone to drive you home from the hospital, is the time to ask for those people to tune into your choices and get acquainted with your needs. If you have a partner at home who is ready, willing and able to help, great. If not, don’t panic. Your close friends and family are great resources and may be more willing to be there for you than you think. Tell them about your decision and invite one along to your medical appointments if you feel comfortable, so he or she can better understand the process. Create the vitamin habit In the beginning stages of your bariatric diet, you will consume small amounts of liquid and eventually solid foods. As you build up to a more balanced diet, providing your body with nutrients is essential. You are not eating the same way that you used to and must supplement to make sure that your body is properly nourished. Take multivitamins as advised by your doctor and remember to make this routine a habit, as your new body will require vitamin supplementation for the rest of your life. Weight loss surgery will change you for the better. By preparing for the initial challenges of surgery and also for the great rewards of long term health and fitness, you pave the way for the best possible weight loss experience.